Korčok to the delegation of the Canadian Parliament: “In considering priorities of our Presidency, we will look for added value for the Union’s citizens" - Detail of web content

Korčok to the delegation of the Canadian Parliament: “In considering priorities of our Presidency, we will look for added value for the Union’s citizens"

Korčok to the delegation of the Canadian Parliament: “In considering priorities of our Presidency, we will look for added value for the Union’s citizens"

25.4.2016 | Aktivity štátnych tajomníkov | Predsedníctvo SR v Rade EÚ

State Secretary of the Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Ministry and Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Presidency in the Council of the European Union Ivan Korčok received the Canadian Parliament delegation for EU relations today (25 April). A group consisting of the Senate and House of Commons MPs has arrived in Bratislava this week for consultations in relation to the upcoming Slovakia´s Presidency in the Council of the EU. Korčok introduced the priorities of our Presidency in the Council of the EU, as well as the ambitions Slovakia would like to reach. He informed his counterparts that our Presidency works with three priority areas, while the main aim will be to bring concrete results with added value for the EU. “Our ambition will be to make the Union closer to its citizens and show its positive influence in their everyday lives. Hence we’ll pay special attention to the single market (especially the digital single market) and the Energy Union, leading talks on measures that can significantly influence not only the European economy but also the standard of living enjoyed by citizens of the Union,” Korčok explained. Besides this, we will have an extensive economic and financial agenda, as well as that of external relations and trade to deal with.

During the discussion, they agreed that the opening context of the Slovak Presidency will greatly be determined by the result of the EU Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom, as well as by current developments in the migration and refugee crisis. Both sides also confirmed the strategic importance of EU-Canadian relations, which can be brought to a new level with the signing of CETA (Comprehensive Trade and Economic Agreement) and SPA (Strategic Partnership Agreement), which is expected to be up for discussion at the EU-Canada summit this autumn.

Ivan Korčok received the Canadian Parliament delegation for EU relations.